The more he earns the more they take off us
112 answers /
Last post: 08/12/2022 at 5:05 pm
My partner has children from a previous marriage. I’m a full time carer for my disabled child, my partner works full time went ontk a better day wage to better us but they are taking large amounts of money from the child support agency. Council tax want money, gas an electric has gone up, I’m 30 weeks pregnant still haven’t been able to afford a pushchair or cot. The more my partner earns the more he does over time so we can buy baby things the more money the csa take and we can’t afford anything and it’s just suddenly becoming extremely difficult to live and I’m at a point now of thinking if he goes to live at his dads and I claim as a single parent I’d be sooooo much better off!! But before I do this, how can we get around all his money going else where? Our rent is £1000 a month the car is £600 a month, has an electric, council tax and water is £300 a month. I just can’t keep up with it all and being so skint
Hi
His other child is entitled to the money that the CSA take to support them. It’s simple. I’m assuming that you knew he had this other child before you got together.
As CMS calculate the support as a % of earnings, they will take more if income is higher. Nothing your partner can do about that unless he agrees a set amount with his ex under a private arrangement, which will be increased each year for example. Is there a debt balance being paid as well as that will also be affecting the CMS payments?
£600 per month seems a lot of money for the car. Does that include finance, insurance, tax and fuel?
Would moving house to somewhere cheaper be a possibility?
Are you claiming disability benefits for your child and possibly carers allowance?
Hi
His other child is entitled to the money that the CSA take to support them. It’s simple. I’m assuming that you knew he had this other child before you got together.
This is an unnecessarily unkind response.
Their family unit is struggling and the proportion seems unfair to her.
She's pregnant and they can't afford to buy basics for their coming child. It's okay for her to be concerned and ask questions.
Not all CSA payments are fair, they try to be, but they're not always so. It's okay for her to ask for help and information.
My understanding is that CSA take a percentage of earnings (15%?) - so if he earns more, they’ll take more.
Is there any way you can cut back? £600 a month for a car seems a huge amount to be paying out. Maybe this could be reduced?
Have you made sure that all the information given to CSA is correct - although the children from his previous relationship are still his responsibility & he must pay for them, you also need enough money to live. Hopefully you can find some areas where you can reduce outgoings?
Hi
It's absolutely right that if he earns more, he pays more for his children. Its a percentage of what he earns.
The £600 pm for your car, I hope that includes everything, insurance fuel, if not but a car you can afford. We are all struggling in this financial climate, including your partners ex who is raising his child.
I think making him move out, so you can commit benefit fraud just so he doesn't have to pay as much to his other child, personally is gross
This is an unnecessarily unkind response.
Their family unit is struggling and the proportion seems unfair to her.
She's pregnant and they can't afford to buy basics for their coming child. It's okay for her to be concerned and ask questions.
Not all CSA payments are fair, they try to be, but they're not always so. It's okay for her to ask for help and information.
Hi Emma
How was her response unkind?
The OP is complaining that her ex pays too much for his other child so can't afford her £600pm car and is looking to commit benefit fraud so the mothers child gets less money. I think her response was very measured. From someone whose dad and gf cheated the system so my mum got less money for my younger siblings, I have zero tolerance for this kind of behaviour.
They have clearly been upfront with his earnings, which doesn't happen a lot, so as per every other person on the system, its calculated all the same. That's the minimum amount the government feel is reasonable for him to contribute.
It sounds to me like he sadly has a massive debt with CMS and they can take up to 40%of your salary if in arrears. Which means the mother may have been struggling for years. Have you considered going to citizens advice for help sorting finances out, I know some areas have grants available for new baby stuff etc. X
Just a question regarding CSA. Mine is worked out on a yearly basis (at the moment mine is based on what ex earned between May 2021 to May 2022, but it depends when you initially apply). So if my ex is doing overtime now, I won't see any rise in maintenance until next year when the annual figure is worked out again. That is the norm when you go through Child Maintenance Service.
Why is your partners worked out on a monthly basis? Unless his is deducted via an attachment of earnings order? They only do this when he has previously missed/refused payments.
Just a question regarding CSA. Mine is worked out on a yearly basis (at the moment mine is based on what ex earned between May 2021 to May 2022, but it depends when you initially apply). So if my ex is doing overtime now, I won't see any rise in maintenance until next year when the annual figure is worked out again. That is the norm when you go through Child Maintenance Service.
Why is your partners worked out on a monthly basis? Unless his is deducted via an attachment of earnings order? They only do this when he has previously missed/refused payments.
Forgot to add. An attachment of earnings order means the employer has to submit the figure he's earned each month and then maintenance is automatically deducted. So of course it would vary month to month depending on overtime.
And IF that is the case, as I said before that means he has previously missed/refused payments (attachment of earnings is last resort) so he only has himself to blame.
Hi Emma
How was her response unkind?
The OP is complaining that her ex pays too much for his other child so can't afford her £600pm car and is looking to commit benefit fraud so the mothers child gets less money. I think her response was very measured. From someone whose dad and gf cheated the system so my mum got less money for my younger siblings, I have zero tolerance for this kind of behaviour.
They have clearly been upfront with his earnings, which doesn't happen a lot, so as per every other person on the system, its calculated all the same. That's the minimum amount the government feel is reasonable for him to contribute.
It was unkind. As Emma said, the OP is struggling and entitled to ask for advice! The comment was constructive only helpful at all.
Forgot to add. An attachment of earnings order means the employer has to submit the figure he's earned each month and then maintenance is automatically deducted. So of course it would vary month to month depending on overtime.
And IF that is the case, as I said before that means he has previously missed/refused payments (attachment of earnings is last resort) so he only has himself to blame.
No he has to pay direct to her and keeps getting new letters from them saying it’s this much and that much and now he owes this much he’s never ever missed a payment we have been together 5 years his Last job was part time he got £300 ish a week we managed so well and now it’s full time we are struggling so bad. Besides paying the csa he gives £100 for birthdays and £250 for Christmas to his children. He buys uniforms and if she needs anything extra he buys it like winter coats. He’s never been bad to them or treat his ex bad she’s moved on remarried has more children she’s never said she struggles and he’s always paid what he’s been told too so I don’t think there has ever been any trouble between them
As CMS calculate the support as a % of earnings, they will take more if income is higher. Nothing your partner can do about that unless he agrees a set amount with his ex under a private arrangement, which will be increased each year for example. Is there a debt balance being paid as well as that will also be affecting the CMS payments?
£600 per month seems a lot of money for the car. Does that include finance, insurance, tax and fuel?
Would moving house to somewhere cheaper be a possibility?
Are you claiming disability benefits for your child and possibly carers allowance?
Yes I claim care allowance and my sons gets some dla. It mainly all goes on him as he needs it. The car is £600 in total with finance fuel tax insurance it was a estimate but it’s around £600 all in all. We didn’t struggle while my partner worked only part time but now it’s full time it’s so difficult and this baby is coming soon and I have nothing for her
No he has to pay direct to her and keeps getting new letters from them saying it’s this much and that much and now he owes this much he’s never ever missed a payment we have been together 5 years his Last job was part time he got £300 ish a week we managed so well and now it’s full time we are struggling so bad. Besides paying the csa he gives £100 for birthdays and £250 for Christmas to his children. He buys uniforms and if she needs anything extra he buys it like winter coats. He’s never been bad to them or treat his ex bad she’s moved on remarried has more children she’s never said she struggles and he’s always paid what he’s been told too so I don’t think there has ever been any trouble between them
How often are these letters coming? Every month? Something not right there. It isn't worked out like that.
Hi
It's absolutely right that if he earns more, he pays more for his children. Its a percentage of what he earns.
The £600 pm for your car, I hope that includes everything, insurance fuel, if not but a car you can afford. We are all struggling in this financial climate, including your partners ex who is raising his child.
I think making him move out, so you can commit benefit fraud just so he doesn't have to pay as much to his other child, personally is gross
And who says his dad would want him to live there anyway!!!....